Carrying device

ABSTRACT

A strap-type carrying device includes a sheath member with a strap extending through the sheath member to form a buckled loop for gripping an object to be carried. The sheath is arranged to cover coat hanger hooks, and a securing ring is secured to the sheath for securing the unit to the coat hangers.

United States Patent Peters 1 July 11, 1972 [54] CARRYING DEVICE [72] Inventor: James G. Peters, 1 Penrose Lane,

Colorado Springs, Colo. 80906 [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.2 101,808

[52] US. ....224/45T [51] Int. A45c 13/26 [58] FieldofSearch ..224/45 R,4A,4C,2D, 45 P,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,554,417 1/1971 Yorty .L ..224/45T 2,528,501 11/1950 Davis ..224/2 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATlONS 684,745 3/1965 Italy ..224/4 A Primary Examiner-Philip Arnold Anomey-Richard D. Law

[ ABSTRACT A strap-type carrying device includes a sheath member with a strap extending through the sheath member to form a buckled loop for gripping an object to be carried. The sheath is arranged to cover coat hanger hooks. and a securing ring is secured to the sheath for securing the unit to the coat hangers.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BATENTEBJUL n 1912 3, 67.5834

INVENTOR JAMES G. PETERS ATTORNEY CARRYING DEVICE Garment bags are very popular with the traveling public. The typical form of a garment bag is a zippered plastic or nylon protective covering in which garments may be hung on coat hangers with the hanger hooks protruding out the top of the bag. Clothing need not be folded when placed in the bag; usually the bag is not folded, but is hung or carried unfolded, thus preventing wrinkling of the contained clothing. The bag is carried by gripping the exposed hanger hook. Such bags are particularly popular in air travel where they may be taken aboard the airplane by the passenger, and are not counted or weighed as part of the luggage limitations. However, when such bags contain heavy clothes and/or must be carried long distances, as in airline terminals, the coat hanger hooks bite, dig, and cramp the users hands and fingers. With such bags, it is important that all hangers be grasped together to prevent the clothing from falling in the bag and wrinkling.

In addition to garment bags, travelers and sportsman personally carry many other articles, such as ski boots and cameras which do not readily fit into typical luggage. Again, such articles are not generally made a part of passenger luggage restrictions. The articles become heavy and cumbersome when carried for long distances and are a burden when a person needs free hands to carry other luggage, open doors, etc.

According to the present invention, I have provided a device which makes more convenient the carrying of various articles, particularly garment bags with exposed coat hanger hooks. The carrying device includes a containing envelope or sheath into or against which articles may be held by an adjustable, buckled strap loop and further secured by a snap ring. The device may be carried by looping over a users shoulder.

Included among the objects and advantages of the invention is a convenient device to secure a single or a bundle of clothes hanger hooks to carry garments mounted on the hangers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elongated looped strap having coat hanger hook containing means secured thereto for use in carrying garments mounted on hangers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device including a sheath, snap ring, and adjustable loop for comfortably and conveniently carrying articles including clothing on hangers. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and appended illustrations, in which:

FIG. 1 is partially cutaway side view of a detail of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view, partially in section, of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the device according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is another detail of the device of the invention.

The device of the invention includes an envelope or sheath, denoted in general by numeral 5, a strap 6, and securing means 7 attached to the envelope. In the illustrated embodiment, sheath has a generally semicircular shape and is formed by walls 8 and 9 fixed together along their upper edges leaving open sheath mouth 10. Suitable material for walls 8 and 9 is split leather which is tough but pliable and may be sewn together by stitches such as 11; plastic or the like may, also, be used. All corners may be rounded. The extent of the area of one of the walls 8 and 9 is preferably greater than about the area defined by a coat hanger hook [such as hook of hanger 31 in FIG. 3]. Near the top of envelope 5, substantially away from mouth 10, is formed slot 12 through each wall 8 and 9.

Strap 6 is a length of leather having its ends threaded through the slots 12 and pulled down inside sheath 5; the ends may be buckled together to form a loop 13 near mouth 10. In one emboidiment, strap 6 is formed from split leather of about one-eighth inch thickness and three-quarters inch width. The

length of strap 6 is a matter of choice. As best shown in FIG. 2, one end 13 of strap 6 may be doubled back over a conventional buckle member 14; other strap end 15 may have a series of holes formed therein so as to be of adjustable length. Clearly other types of straps and length adjustment means may be utilized according to the invention. When a flat strap is used, an elongated pad such as a pad 16 may be readily slipped onto the strap through slots 17 and 18 adjacent the pad ends, and such a pad will maintain its position on the strap.

Securing means 7, in the illustrated embodiment, is a snap ring having hinge l9 and clamping jaws 20. Such rings are conventional. The ring 7 may be easily attached to sheath 5 by forming tab 21 near mouth 10 and placing ring 7 through aperture 22. As will be obvious from the following description of modes of use of the invention, ring 7 may be other types of fasteners, such as snap hooks, etc.

The invention is used as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, a coat hanger hook 30 has been buckled through strap loop 13 and strap 6 drawn through slots 12 so as to securely pull hook 30 up into sheath 5. Jaws 20 of ring 7 are then pivoted apart, ring 7 placed about the hanger, and the ring clamped together. When a bundle of hangers are so held, one of the hangers cannot accidently come loose from the bundle on the loop to be lost. Thus, coat hangers are securely held in the envelope and a garment bag may be slung over the traveler's shoulder. Envelope 5 keeps the hooks from jabbing the carrier. If desired, the strap can be looped over a shoulder with pad 16 providing additional comfort. Other articles, such as light traveling bags, cameras, hatboxes, flight bags, etc, may be secured through loop 13. FIG. 4 shows a handle 32, as on an attache case buckled through loop 13 and pulled tight against envelope 5 by strap 6 for carrying. The buckle of the strap is relocated by pulling each end of the strap through one of the slits in the sheath. This permits opening the loop below the sheath for attaching the loop to the handle of an article. Such an arrangement is particularly convenient while riding a bicycle.

Iclaim:

l. A carrying device for attachment to articles such as coat hangers and the like comprising: a sheath member having an open mouth and having a slot formed through opposing sheath walls substantially away from said mouth; selectively operable securing means attached to said sheath member adjacent said mouth; and a buckled carrying strap means threaded through said slots with a portion of said strap forming a buckled loop inside said sheath and with a substantial portion of said strap extending beyond said sheath whereby an article may be secured by placing a portion of the articles through said buckled loop, drawing said strap tight to pull said loop into said sheath, and selectively attaching said securing means to the article.

2. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said sheath member is generally semi-circular and said mouth is at the diameter.

3. A carrying device according to claim 2 wherein said sheath member includes two generally parallel walls secured together along certain of their edges.

4. A carrying device according to claim 3 wherein said walls are pliable leather and attachment is by sewing.

5. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a snap ring.

6. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said buckled strap means includes at one end a buckle and at the other end means responsive to said buckle whereby the effective length of said strap means may be selectively varied.

7. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said strap means includes an elongated narrow pad attached to said strap.

8. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein the interior area of said sheath member substantially exceeds the area defined by a coat hanger hook. 

1. A carrying device for attachment to articles such as coat hangers and the like comprising: a sheath member having an open mouth and having a slot formed through opposing sheath walls substantially away from said mouth; selectively operable securing means attached to said sheath member adjacent said mouth; and a buckled carrying strap means threaded through said slots with a portion of said strap forming a buckled loop inside said sheath and with a substantial portion of said strap extending beyond said sheath whereby an article may be secured by placing a portion of the articles through said buckled loop, drawing said strap tight to pull said loop into said sheath, and selectively attaching said securing means to the article.
 2. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said sheath member is generally semi-circular and said mouth is at the diameter.
 3. A carrying device according to claim 2 wherein said sheath member includes two generally parallel walls secured together along certain of their edges.
 4. A carrying device according to claim 3 wherein said walls are pliable leather and attachment is by sewing.
 5. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a snap ring.
 6. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said buckled strap means includes at one end a buckle and at the other end means responsive to said buckle whereby the effective length of said strap means may be selectively varied.
 7. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein said strap means includes an elongated narrow pad attached to said strap.
 8. A carrying device according to claim 1 wherein the interior area of said sheath member substantially exceeds the area defined by a coat hanger hook. 